Coffee Maker

If you are looking for a coffee maker for your home, to the untrained eye this task can be a bit of a minefield. Coffee makers come in all different shapes and sizes, not forgetting prices. You can spend as little as £40 for a plastic glorified kettle, right up to in excess of £1,000. In general terms, the more you spend the better the coffee maker, obviously.

But what are you getting when you invest in a premium coffee maker compared to cheap (sorry, we hate that word) coffee makers? Here's a few pointers:

• Build quality
• Finish & style
• Robust performance
• Boiler & heating systems
• Capacity
• Quality of coffee dispensed
• Powerful steaming for milk and cappuccino
• Reliability
• Service, support and warranty
• Durability and longevity, coffee makers are built to last years

Now, once you've decided to invest in a premium coffee maker, the next potential daunting task is where to start, with so many types and styles, for example bean to cup coffee maker, cappuccino maker, espresso machines, pods machines and capsule coffee makers etc. Here's a quick summary of the difference between these coffee makers:

Espresso Machines - Mini version of what you see in a coffee shop, usually come with a coffee grinder so you can grind your coffee beans. These coffee makers usually have a steam wand to froth milk for latte and cappuccino. Also known as traditional coffee machines.

Bean to Cup Machines - These coffee makers are one touch button operated. You put your coffee beans into the integrated bean hopper and store fresh milk into a seperate milk container or fridge. These coffee machines then make your coffee beverage at the touch of a button.

Coffee Pod Machines - Designed to use fresh individual coffee pods which are placed in the group handle. ESE Coffee pods are like tea bags, compacted with fine grind espresso coffee. Some espresso machines are compatible to use as coffee pod machines, such as the Ascaso coffee maker range. You can use ESE coffee pods in any coffee pod machine as the majority are the same size.

Capsule Machines - Similar to pod machines but instead of using coffee pods, coffee capsules consist of fine ground espresso coffee contained in a plastic cartridge. Well known brands include Nespresso, Gaggia Caffitaly and illy. Capsule coffee makers usually use specific coffee capsules produced for a particular coffee maker.

Filter Coffee Makers - These machines brew 8-10 coffees through a filter paper and dispense into a glass serving jug, often on a hot plate.

We're here to help with advice or more information if required.